Vertical beacon



April 17, '1928. 1,666,196

4 H. F. CUNTZ VERTICAL BEACON Filed Aug. 165 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ril 17, 1928. 1, 5,19

- H. F. CUNTZ VERTICAL BEACON Filed Aug. I6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. F. CUNTZ VERTICAL BEACON Filed Auz. 16, 1922 April 17, 1928.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Shgets-Sheet 4 'H. F. CUNTZ VERTICAL BEACON Filed M12216. 1922 FIG. 5.

April 17, 1928.

Patented Apr. 17,1928. 1,666,196 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE. v HERMA NN F. CUN'IZ, F HARTFORD, CONFEQTIGUTF VERTICAL BEACON. A Application filed August 16, 1922. Serial No. 582,1?1.

This ii'ivention relates to the night markchronism so that their intersection will aping of airways or airlancs, and has for its proximately maintain a line or a flat are of object the novel projection of light beams maximum luminosity or varied lines like toprovide light spots or markers in space fugitive writing at a predetermined altitude 6O specially adapted to meet the particular reabove the train.

quirements of night flying. The invention In particular, the practice of this inveninvolves the production of suclrnight lights tion will provide for the marking of ai-rin the sky, and the methods of marking of lanes by night, by the simple adoption of air travel lanes, as well as apparatus for apparatus of not prohibitive cost or com- 10 effecting the same. pleXity, and carrying such apparatus on More particularly the invention involves .trains which have ample and usually surplus the provision of a night light spot or spots power readily available, and carry such which may be intermittent, and which "may skilled hands as may be required forattenbe provided a progressive series of spots tion and manipulation of the apparatus, so

15 at an approximately definite altitude in conthat the route of a railroad may be quickly junction with variable light beams, andthe and economically equipped with all the production of such airlane illumination power andapparatus and personnel necesfrom apparatus carried bya moving vehisary for effective and economical, and in cle, such as some part of a railroad train. other ways advantageousillumination of an 20 Particular forms of my invention are 'airroute or airlanes between central points based on the projection of beams skyward of air traffic. f from a rail car, and controlling and varying For the. purpose of more specific descripthe angle of the beam with due regard to 'tion of this invention, the accompanying the movement of the car, so that an approxidrawings illustrate specific embodiments of 25 mate point reasonably within the altitude apparatus and illustrations of operation, lane which it might be desiredto mark, will which drawings forming a part hereof have a relative permanency for better visishown in: i bility than laterally moving light beams. In Fig. 1 a side view of railroad train with i this manner a ray'projected may bemoved different positions of Skyward beam pivot- 30 through an angle whereby it'will have the ing about a predetermined altitude point.

appearance of pivoting about a point of Fig. 2 shows aside view of the front end three thousand feet altitude, so that while the of a locomotive illustrating the periodic skymajor part of the beam. would have a swift -ward deflection of all or part of the headlateral movement, the persistency of the light rays. I

35 focal point or point around which the beam Fig. 3 shows the front portion of anelecswings would provide a greatercertainty of trio locomotive with the apparatus'for inpermanency for visibility of air pilots, and termittent skyward projection of the headwould have periodic regularity from which light rays. Fig. 3 shows in detail one form relative motion of aircraft can be deterof intermittent and angularly varied. skyw mined. w ward reflection of a searchlight ray. Fig. 3

Thus a train may carry a Searchlight is a cross-section of the principal parts on which would project a ray skyward at an line 3+3" of Fig. 3

angle, and the angle by direct projection or 4 is a side view of a railroadltrain reflection. would vary with the movement of with dual Skyward intersecting beams prothe train, as, for example, in direct ratio jeeted from an extended moving base. .F

to the speed-of the train. thereby producing i is a side view on a large scale. of a searchlho effect of the beam pivoting about a focal light and adjustable reflector and appurtepoint ata 'iredeterinined altitude depending naneeson a train unit such a locomotive upon the rate of change of angular-projectendon, v c i so tion. For some purposes two rays may be Fig. 5 is a side view ofa series of skyprojected from a train and in the plane of ward swinging beams illustrated as projectmovement of the train,.so that their intered from a moving train, with different posection will more effectively mark a light sitionsof train shown. to illustrate the spot under suitable atmospheric conditions, method in operation. I I 3 I at a predetaminecl altitude, but such double Thus a locomotive 1f with ahedlight? rays be angularly varied has intermittentlyoperated reset-airs source of light. v

train thein'terruption of the headlight for.

which may be given a position and'angularity to suddenly project the beam A. The angle of the reflector 8 being varied with the position of the locomotive 1 maintains the position of the beam directed substantially at a point B in space, and by the rate of change of the reflector. 3 the pivotal point B may be predetermined, approximately, at an altitude of, say,.one thousand, two thous'andor three thousand feetgor such altitude as the strengthsofthe ray andthe predetermined conditionsof airlane marking make desirable. VVh-en the headlight or searchligh-t hasmoved to the position 1, the beam has assumed position C, and is thencut oll so that as a headlight it projects-horizon tally on the tracks as indicated atD. Such operation may involve a short period'oflive seconds out of every minute, and the change of angularity and the rate of change would he proportioned to the speed of the train, and preferably automatically governed by the-speed of movement of the headlight or sea'rchlight, or in any event the movement of the reflector, whatever may be the original Thus with a. high speed Skyward beam-deflection might involve the period less than the distance of headlight illumination when horizontal, so: that in spite o't-a relatively short periodic upward deflection, there would be no portion of the track that had not been illuminated by the headlight.

As shown in Fig. usual-position or ina lower positionthan hasheretofjore been the practice, would have the reflectorapparatus supported rigidly in respect to the headlight with the necessary mechanism to project thereflector in the path of the horizontal rays and to manipulate the movement of the reflector, .as shown at 3. In this position the vertical or skyward rays could. always be renovated ahead of the vertical and be allowed'to' pivot to a vertical: position, without interference with existing locomotive parts, and without penetrating any steam or smoke or dust laden air. In Fig. 3 the headlight on anel'ectric locomotive would be project-ed byapparatus largely, under cover of the. hood of the-1 1000- motive. and well positioned for protection, and for inspection, control or adjustment. In this position the vertical .rayswould be above any line of vision of the engine driver and would, therefore, not interfere with his vision except for .he relatively sinalltime 4 for Skyward deflection intermittent with the long period ofv horizontal ray covering the tr aclrahead. p i As 'shownin Fig. 3:, the reflector 3 is car ried by a frame 4 with pins 55 on either side sliding in guide frame ,6, pivoted at 7 to provide for varying angularity. This angularity in the form shown, is provided by 2, the headlight in cams or wedges 8-8, the relative position of which determines the angularity of the guides 6, and the position of the wedges '88 inturn are determined by the rods 99.,attached to levers 1010 which are subject to control. The wedges 8-8 forcing the frame 6 inone direction are resisted by springs 1111 constantly tending to force the guides 6 -6 into a position of 45 de grees, in the case here illustrated. Thus the wedges 88 are pulled into position shown in full-lines, by the levers 10-10 and due to stops 12 12 on said levers which are engaged by pins 55 when the reflector frame 4 is in retracted position drawn into such inactive position by the action of a conipressed air piston 13 acting on the lever 14l-v connected by a pivot 15 to the inner end of the reflector frame 1. A- spring 16 fastened to one fixed point and at the other end engaging-the end 17 of the lever 10, or engaging a single lever connected with a shaft to which both of the levers 10 are attached, tends to resist the engagement of pins 55, but is suitably controlled by governor regulation subject to the speed of the vehicle. In this manner the housing of the reflector frame 4: pulls the levers 101O into a posi: tion dependent upon the vehicle speed, and by means of rods 9 9 determines the position. of the camor wedges 8-8, and there fore the initial. angularity of the guides 66. When reflector frame 4 projected upwardly by the compressed air piston 13 acting. on the lever, or levers 14, the reflector 3 immediately assumes the angularity determined by the position of the cams 88, but by the release of the pins 55 the levers 1010 immediately begin to move under the actionof the spring 16, turning the shaft l0 which through suitable gears, indicated at 10, theinoveinent of the shaft is controlled by a governor, diagrammatimlly illustrated at 18, so that by suitable governor relations, the action of spring- 16 will cause the respective interconnections to move the cams 8-.8'progressively within the predetermined time desired to permit the guide frauies 6+6 to be pivoted under the action ofthe springsll-ll about the pivot 7, into the final-position of 455 degrees. 'hen the reflector 3' has thus been thrown into the position of intercepting the rays, and as moved through itspredetermined angle, the compressed air piston automatically throws the lovers 14c and by quick action retrieves or houses the reflector 3 and its frame 4-, thereby leaving. the rays ofthe searchlight 2 unintercepted for their horizontal projection.

' lVhile for purposes of illustration a position of approximately 61 degrees initial angularity of reflector has been shown, with a progressive movement to a final position of 45 degrees, it will be understood that the particular conditions for which the particu- 1 seventyeseven feet of travel.

lar apparatus is intended, will determine the positions and angles to meet the desired skyward ray projection and the progressive movement and angular variation of the beam in order to accomplish the purposes as hereinbefore and hereinafter described. Thus as illustrated, if it is assumed that the focal point B in Fig. 1 is intended to be at a 2000- foot lane above the source of the rays, then from the initial position A of approximately sixty degrees to the position C forty-five de grees,.the source of light would move approximately 1150 feet, that isthe angular movement of the reflector should be steady and at a rate of about one degree for each seventy-seven feet of movement of the source of light, and for this specific case the governor 18 would be set to permit lever to move the wedge 8 so that for every seventy seven feet of movement of the source of light the reflector frame will have gradually changed half a degree so as to change the sky angle of rays one degree. The governor control is readily obtained by any suitable connections as with the axles of a car or locomotive. Mechanism similar to speed indicators driven by a car aide, or any posi tive speed mechanism may be connected to shaft 10 or elsewhere to move the rod 9 and wedge 8 by any suitable mechanical means at a rate which would give an angular change to the ray of one degree for approximately Thus suitable mechanism may be readily provided to defleet the reflector positively while the operator adjusts therate of change until it corresponds with. the spced at the time to maintain the focal point at the two thousand foot lane, or to adjust it for any other ltieight of lane in which it isydesired to maintaiirtl'io light spot. As shown in l? l, a suitable cowl or housing provides for the elimination or minimizingof varying wind pressure against the reflector and reflector frame, as

well as protection for the searchlight 2%" searchlight 2 is used only for skyward beam pro ection, if a periodicity, and not permanency of sky beams is desired the retrieving of the reflector 3 may he ellminated, and if a fixed sky focus or pendulum spot is desired,

the angular shifting of the reflector-3 is pro-' svided with intermittent quick return to its initial position and with a progressive change of angularity dependent upon the vehicle speed, as, forexample, in asimilar manner to that described in connection with VVhentwo beams are used, as shown in Fig. 4, the angular positions of reflectors are appropriately adjusted; Without change in E, produced by beams E and E wouldprovide an altitude airlane indication, but as shown by focus F and beams Ff and F" an initial position of cooperating beams is such that with movable reflectors synchronized to change their angularity in: some proportion to the speed of the train, the focal spot may be substantiallyefixed or it may pass through a flat are at an approximate determined altitude, relative to the movement of the train,

and'aftera predetermined fixity of position, a simultaneous angular shifting ofthe reflectors 3 and 3 will give the focal. or

intersection point a new advance position and maintain the same with suitable regula tion of reflector angularity, with a further intermittent shift or change so as to produce the effect of a. series of more or less fixed light spots with earthward radiating and moving rays focusing on said light spots, which in allcases will indicate the direction of movement of the source of light.

In Fig. 5' there is shown a train G with vertical projecting apparatus H at the rear so that it is remote from the engine driver, so that the beainwill have theleast effect upon theengine drivers vision. This pro jecting apparatus H contains similar reflec-' tor apparatus with a source of beam such as a Searchlight, adaptcdto project it as illus trated in the position of vertical ray J. The previous position of the train G to indicate the projection of the vertical ray beams by suitable mechanism, in the position of ray J, and while the train moves from G to G the angularity changes from that of the beam J to that of the beam J. The change of angularity being so timed with respect to the speed of-the train, that it pivotssubstantially about a spot K, which of course will be variabledue tothe irregularity of speed and the joltiu'e of the'traiu, but the size of thc heam at the focus K will be such that the mist or impurities in the air,

moisture, etc., which would give a good Searchlight ray-luminosity at that point, would mean that such luminous spot would remain substantially fixed while the train passed from position G to G, and would therefore make the finial pointfK a .sky-

light spot of suflieient duration and persist ency, so as to afi'ord more certain visibility than other parts of the ray, either above or below the focal point K, which would be moving quickly. The quick movement above and below the focal point K would cause the beams to move through denser or rarer zones or banks of moisture if such be prcsout, and betherefore fluctuant light, thus relatively adding to the visibility of the focal spot K. The movement of the rays above or below the focal point woulchh'ow- *ever,'present a fllstlIlOtlVGSliY mark, and the direction of movement below the point K would indicate the movement of the source of light, and'in that way would be informatory to the night pilot and be an additional guide-besides the mere fact that the beacon emanated from a known route, and in addition to the information which the focal point would convey with respect to altitude.

The position G of the train and the -position G it will be understood are )FGCGLllIlQ positions in the movement of the train and are therefore shown in dotted lines. and would successively produce the sky beacon foci L and K which would vanish as the next succeeding position is established, but for purposes of illustration these are shown as if the step-by-step flashing was sufficiently frequent to provide some permanency of impression upon the retina thus indicating an altitude marking in the nature of a light spot with a tail of dotsor fainter spots of graduated distinctness. Further more, as here illustrated the reflector mechanism is so arranged that instead of shutting off the light, the reflecior is quickly shifted at intervals without intermission, which is illustrated by the light raysemanating from the source of li ht at the tail of the train in its successive positions.

In connection with modern train equipment, while locomotives are of sutlicient current capacity for the purposes of vertical pendulum-beacons as herein set forth, it is preferred to supply current as by a turbogenerator as in a baggage car or on a tender, with suitable roof or hatch openings on such ears, or on a rear car as .shown in Fig, 4. The entire'reflector mechanism can be constructed to detachably 'mount onthe end of a car as shown in Fig. 5. It is quite reasonable to consider a special lighthouse? car, namely, a car equipped with the usual, turbo-generator and a more powerful searchlight, and with radio and other apparatus, and crew for the particular purpose of air ing night flying, in which case such a car would under'suitable conditions serve the purpose of an aerial lighthouse moving over the route of night aerial travel, and a series of cars would therefore serve the purpose of a large number of stationary lightl'iouses, and would have the advantage of self-contained power equipment, with ample power, with the entire equipment daily at a point where overnauling or adjustment could be readily ma while each entire car lights house would involve possibly much less,,and no more, in cost than a single fixed lighthouse with its adjuncts, crew and upkeep.

The movable lighthouse would have its inherent advantages of beam manipulation to provide focal pointsor relatively persistent ight spots at predetermined altitudes, and detached spots or a contiguous series of spots, or by suitable regulationof thechange of angularity of the reflector, the relatively persistent light spot might be moved in an are or line in the manner indicated in Fig. 4;, and'have various other modifications of sky beacon phenomena, and a great variety of combinations and permutations of night beacons and also night signals may be provided.

In the commercial development special cars with their equipment may include duplicate apparatus so to produce combinations of fixed altitude spots and signals, or two altitude lanes may be marked with light of relatively greater persistency or luminosity. The apparatus may be so mounted as to be laterally shifted, and in such case duplicate apparatus tilted in opposite directions, namely, to either side of the path of the road, could be regulated to show in effect two parallel lines of light at a predetermined altitude. While the ordinary head-light for locomotives would sufiice for reasonable visibility at 2000 feet altitude, and under suitable atmospheric conditions threev and four thousand feet, the current equipment now usual on ordinary electrically lighted railroad cars would be suficient for stronger searchlights and much greater altitude markings, without requiring any special development of equipment as far as current is required. 7 r

' A fixed lighthouse system means an expensive duplication at numerous points such as 15 @020 miles apart, and would be used only intermittently on many routes before the amount of trailic reached a point that would make such permanent installation efficient and warranted. Thus the car sky beacons would blaze the way for transcontinental night flying and serve the purpose, possibly better than permanent beacons, for many years before the installation of permanent beacons would be under any circumstances warranted.

It must also be noted that the reflector and searchlight equipment herein described intended princi pally for railroad cars, can be 'nounted .on motor cars preferably where long straight stretches of good highways would provide for reasonable regularity in the moven'ient of the car, and to that extent ltiighways, such as the Lincoln Highway, could be marked by motorcar searchlights for night beacons, and with suitable regulation the night routes could be blazed over different sections at different times of night when regular air traffic required, and itcould also lie momentarily started and blazed for any special night emergency flight wherever the route desired passes over long stretches of suitable highway..

While in certainforms of the night beacon it is contemplated that three to ten seconds vertical progectiomthen an interval for the balance of a minute, would be a suitable night signal under certain conditions, a continuous advancing or umping focal spot may in other casesbe more suitable as a guide for the night pilot. With the Various means oi changing the nature oi the signals, the altitude of u'iarking, and then with the many variations in time and interval, it will be readily seen that a great many permutations and vcombinations are possible with this sys tem of night beacons, so that any number of distinctive routes can be marked, thereby permitting a night flier to pick the difl'erent routes, or change from one to the other when within the range of visibility,having in each case practically a clear night map leading to any desired destination, and in addition an indication of direction, which would be based upon preknowledge of the operation of the railroad or high-way beacons on the different routes or at different times of night.

Many modifications may be made with respect to the method of projecting of vertical beacons-j containingthe inventions hereinbefore described, and their method of use, would be subject to innumerable modilications, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim and desire to'secure by Let ters Patent is: V i V 1. 1A beacon for guiding aircraft at night, comprising a source of light beam, means for controlling the projection of said beam skyward and means for varying the angle a limited amount from the vertical, means for progressively varying said angularity of the beam synchronously with the speed of movement of the source of light along the ground, whereby ground motion of the source continuous in a substantially horizontal direc tion is accommodated with vertical angular change of the beam in a ratio to keep apoint of the beam at a predetermined height above the source in a fixed position, for the purpose described.

2. In combination, a vehicle moving in I a generally horizontal direction, a source of concentrated upward light beam carried by said vehicle, means for steadily and progressively varying the angularity of said beam from or to the vertical throughout a predetermined angle in a fixed .ratio with the speed of the moving vehicle, and cooperating means for periodically setting the means of projecting the beam at the initial angle from which the progressive variation starts.

3. An aircraft beacon for guiding pilots at night by tracing a lane at a predetermined altitude above ground by relatively intensified light zones or spots, comprising a searchlight and reflector, means for controlling the Skyward projection of a beam from the Searchlight and means for automatically varying the angle of said beam gradually over a limited range from the vertical and .movement' of the vehicleand ina predeterin a planecoincident with the direction of the lane, means tor carrymgsuch searchlight at a substantially uniform speed in the varying progressively the upward angle of the rays in the reverse direction from'the mined and angular ray" coinci'din 'with the rate of movement of the searchlight and: the vehicle, and means for periodically and automatically changing the angle of the reflector to set the upward angle of projection of the rays "at the, initial position to repeat the steadily; varying angular change.

5. A beacon for aircraft adapted to be established fromla moving vehicle, compris ing a train, a searchlight on said train, automatic means for varying the skyward angle of projection ofa light beam on a focal point in the sky in the plane of movement of the moving vehicle, means for periodic variation of the focal pointof Skyward projection, and means for periodically interrupting said light beam. 1 i

6. In combination with alocomobile Searchlight, a reflector, -means for varying the angularity of the reflector'for skyward projection of the beam, and means-for intermittently shifting the reflectOrbOdily in and out ofthepath of the light beam.

7. Means for projecting a lightbeam from a train comprising a source ofconcentrated beam, a movable reflector adapted to be periodically projected into the path of the beam, means for automatically varying'the angularity of the reflector when intercepting the beam, and means for controllingsaid angularity in predetermined relation to the speed of the train. j

8. Means for projecting a light beam from a train comprising a source of concentrated beam, a movable reflector adapted to be periodically projected into the path of the beam, means for automatically varying the angularity of the reflector when intercepting the beam, means for controlling said angularity in predetermined relation to the speed of the train, and means for automatically shifting the reflector in and out of the path of the beam at predetermined intervals.

9. A skyairplane lane indicating system comprising a concentrated light beam, a car rier therefor and means for moving the same parallel to the lane it is desired to indicate in thesky, means for gradually varying to a limited degree the angle of skyward projecloo tion of the Concentrated lightbeam synchronously with the movement of the source of the'beam in the directio'nof the la ne, such angularmotion being in a direction whereby a point in'the light beam at a predetermined altitude will remain substantially stationary during a limited movement at the source of light, and nieansthereupon jt'or'automatically shifting the initial angle of projection to a new advanced point of skyward projection and automatic resum itior'i of the gradual angular change to, produce again "the'appeara'nce of a fixed altitude point or zone in the beam, (if intensified light.v v

10,, A. night beacon "for navigation of aircraft, comprising means for tracing in the sky at. a, substantially fixed altitudean inten- V sifiedor focal light spot or spots comprising two light beams intersecting at a focus sources of projection for saidbeams carried on movable supp'efte moving synchronously and automatic means for" synchronously hi ting he angelarity of said beams to maintain their ifocal intersection at substantially uniform altitudefbut with intermit tent, fixed position and periodic shifting with relation to1the source ofmovement of the lights, I r i I f 1. A sky ligl-iting system comprising sources, of light for aplurality ofbea'ms intersecting asubstantially fixed sky focus at a predetermined altitude, acarrier for sai'disources of light-moyable along theisurface of; the-earth, and; automatic means for varying the angular-ity of the different beams synchr nously. v i

12. sky lighting system comprising sources of; light for a plurality ofskyward beamsyineansyfor varyingt -g r y of each at the be ms n a p ed ermined manne wherebyi-intersection of thebeams will be maintained; at a; predetermined height above the plane of movement of the source of light, and means for simultaneously varying the angularity whereby the focal point of intersection willbe moved to follow a controller course in the sky.

13. A sky lighting system comprising sonrceso'f light for a plurality of beams, a reflector associated with each source of light adapted to produce a skyward deflection of the beams intersecting at a controlled or predetermined altitude, means fol-coordinating the movement of the reflectors whereby the intersection or focal point of the beams may be given any desired movement while constantly .maintaining'the intersection of the beams in the sky.

' 14. A system of sky lighting comprising moving sources of light emitting searchlight rays, and means for automatically varying the Skyward angle of said rays synchronously with the motion of the sources of light to-maintain-their intersection at aqpoint in space at apredetermined' altitude and means for shifting the ray intersection, whereby a lane of intensified light. spots or foci may be traced in the sky with greatly increased visibility directly over a desired route, such as. a railroad or motor roadway. '15. A system of sky'lightingcomprising a plurality of sources emitting concentrated lightrays, a source of power for eachflight source and .a plurality of carriersjeach havinga source of power, and means for-varying the angular skywardprojection of each ray, meanstor slow variation ofthe angular change of the ray; at tiinesand -means for quick shifting of the angle of sky projecthan F periodically. v y

This specification/signed and witnessed this 12th day of August, 1922.

HERMANN F. CUNTZ. 

